Fever thermometer



Oct. 19, 1948.

K. M. KELLER ET AL 2,451,746

FEVER THERMOMETER Filed NOV. 26, 1945 Patented Oct. 19, 1948 Kathryn M. Keller,- Elizabeth il. Keilenana' Anne H. Keller, ChicagoglIll. f

7 Application November 26,1945, serial Ne. 630,952

"This invention relates toa new improved fever thermometer and has for oneof its principal objects the provision .of means `:for causing the mercury to be thrown down into the storage bulb attli'e base of the thermometer.

`An important object of this invention is to provide a cross-handle for a fever thermometer. p

Another important object of this invention is to provide an integral glass cross-handle for glass fever thermometers. 1 A p A further important object of this invention is to provide a glasscross-memberadapted to receive a standard fever thermometer therein wherein a cementing ol?i the thermometer and cross-handle forms an integralllnit.l i

A still further important object of this invention is the provision of a glass fever thermometer having integral glass handles formed as a unit with the tubular thermometer.

Another and still further important object of this invention is to provide a fever thermometer with a means for throwing down the thermometer solution and to provide one which may be readily sterilized in the regular manner.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the fever thermometer of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the thermometer as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device as shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 shows a modied form of fever thermometer.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral I indicates generally a glass tubular fever thermometer having a lower bulb portion II carrying a solution of mercury and alcohol and having calibrations I2 along the upper portion thereof to indicate the height of the thermometer solution of mercury and alcohol.

Fever thermometers as universally used both in hospitals and homes must be treated with great care. First they must be sterilized and yet they cannot be boiled as most articles can be. Therefore these thermometers must be immersed in an antiseptic solution capable of sterilizing the article Without raising the temperature thereof inasmuch as raising of the temperature would destroy the use of the thermometer. Secondly, after the temperature of a person has .been recorded it is necessary to cause the mercury or solution of mercury and alcohol to be lowered 1 Claim. (ol. TS1-.373)

l toits place of storage"V in the bulb II.` Inorder A mometer.V

tolower the mercury it is common practice to shake` the thermometer by a throwing motion of the-arm fandmaint'aining vafirrn grip on the ther- Manufacturers `of thermometers advise against a jerking or a sudden stopping of thethermometer during throwingof the arm. A good fever thermometer requires a great deal of eiort to lower the mercury. In many instances the" hospital patients Yarerequired to takertheir` own temperatures` and must necessarily shake' down the mercury after each reading. 'This is especially true in tuberculosis sanatariums where it is essential that temperature recordings be made numerous,timesthroughoutthe day.` Basically it is Vbad `fortubercular patients to make the exertion necessary to lower the mercury. It was with these two things in mind that the thermometer of this invention was developed.

In order to provide a fever thermometer which is capable of being readily sterilized and also one which may have its solution readily lowered,` the subject fever thermometer has been made entirely of glass and is equipped with an integral cross-member I3 having handles I4 and I5. `A central portion I6 of the cross-member I3 is provided with a socket I1 for the reception of an upper end I8 of the tubular thermometer I0. A glass cement is then applied between the thermometer portion I8 and the socket I1 of the cross-member I-3 so that the cross-member I3 and the thermometer I0 become a single integral unit which may be sterilized and which will contribute to the lowering of the thermometer solution without being changed in any manner. The socketl I'I, as shown in Figure l, runs entirely through the spherical central portion I6 of the cross-member I3 so that the cross-member may be positioned at any height along the length of the tubular thermometer I0. The socket I1, however, need not be a complete bore through the spherical portion I6 .but may cease at any point. The length of the bore is determined only by the amount necessary to insure a good firm joint between the tubular portion I0 and the cross-member I3. With the present standard thermometer it is a requirement that all the calibrated figures on the thermometer be open to view, and hence the cross-member I3 is positioned at the top of the tube I0 in the manner shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. In order to lower the thermometer solution the handles I4 and I5 are gripped in the right and left hands, respectively, between the thumb and forenger. The tubular portion I0 is initially rotated in an upward position, and movement of the flngers to cause the tube l0 to swing downwardly will create sufficient centrifugal force to throw the mercury down into the bulb Il. The rotation of the tube I0 must be made relatively fast in order to throw down the mercury. The action should be repeated until the mercury is down sufliciently low.

As shownl in Figure 4, a thermometer' I9 is equippes:l.witl:iI la handlef'ZD having al thermometer; engaging portion Z'l similar to the central portion I6 of the cross-member I3 as shown in Figuresli,

1, 2, and 3. One of the handles such as shown in Figure 1 has been eliminated. Under sorhelcondii-k..

tions a single handle 20 such as shoyvn jrrFigure 44 will be sufficient to cause rotation "0itherflivr'eleI mometer and a centrifugal outward throwing of the thermometer solution. `Betlfofthe\.handles f shown in Figures l and 4 may be mountedrsathat readings of the thermometer may be viewed when the handles ,I4 and ZDareheldinthe right hand,` T hi'seliminates'muchv turningofthe thermometer I5 in an eiiforttoj nd Ithe sidej at which the rea mg may bewaken. 'In creer-rc. furtner facinta tei the readingk of the 4 thermometer` ani.'indicating,A

niark'sfplace'd on thefcrossfmember'as shownat 25 130353,35,

25" in' Figure 1', 'and' on the handlel memberf ',20`fas". shown .at 2Bjfin'Fi'gure 4.,' Thetherm'ometier` thisfdvice is readily readable'. The' material been designated' -as,.glass; in?

asmuch' as' glass i`s` conduciveV ,to4 sterilization 'aridiA isl tlie.y recognized materialjfor-nialiing., there; m'omfete'rsj.Y Howeven` transparent. p'vl'a'stk'iL mate.-- rialsjjsuch 'as lu'cite may, be usedf't'o equal; advanf tage with.the glassmaterial.v

*Numerousedetailsi ofQconstructicn maybe, variedi 35itube adjacent an end thereof, said tube and transversefmember being permanently joined at such engagingfsurrace...

" KATHRYN M. KELLER.

ELIZABETH H. KELLER. ANNE H. KELLER.

REFERENQES CITED The.,following,,referendesare Qfecordlinhe lmf'thispaltemv.

nutren-"Smyrna PATENTS. 

